The history of
the Pacific war can never be written without telling the story of the USS
O'Bannon. Time after time the O'Bannon and her gallant little sisters
were called upon to turn back the enemy. They never disappointed
me.
Out-numbered, out-gunned,
during the dark days of '42 and '43 they stood toe-to-toe with the best
the Japanese Fleet could offer--and never failed to send them scurrying
home with their tails between their legs.
No odds were ever too
great for them to face. They fought battleships and heavy cruisers;
escorted vitally needed supply ships for marines on Guadalcanal; bombarded
Japanese positions; aided in dangerous rescue operations; and derailed
the Tokyo Express so often that the Japanese admirals ran out of excuses.
No medals, however high,
can reward the gallant men of the tin-can fleet for their brave deeds.
In her darkest hour their country called. They answered with
flaming guns and high courage.

WILLIAM F. HALSEY
Admiral, U.S. Navy

IN TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF GUADALCANAL NOVEMBER
13 - 15, 1942

To the superb officers and men on the sea, on
land, in the air, and under the seas who in the past five days have performed
such magnificent feats for our country. You have won the undying gratitude
of your country and have written our names in golden letters on the pages of
history. No honor for you could be too great, my pride in you is beyond
expression. Magnificently done. May God bless each and everyone of
you. To the glorious dead, hail heroes - may you all rest with God.
(At left, O'Bannon crew picture)

William F. Halsey

Admiral, U.S. Navy

A leading magazine
(LIFE) of the time reported
the worries that the American public had to face in November of 1942:

Most worrisome of all was a little island 5,000
miles across the Pacific, which few had even heard of six months ago.
What happened on Guadalcanal suddenly became more important to the average
American than any event in his daily life. There, surrounded by Japanese
and American fleets, whose mysterious movements left the whole issue in
doubt, a few thousand young men represented for the time being all the
offensive land power that the greatest nation on earth has mustered.
In the emotional heat of this fact the happy war began to boil and bubble
away like meaningless vapor.

Background to my personal story:

It is hot and it is miserable, it is Guadalcanal at dawn
on August 7th, 1942 . The
Marines have landed
and,
as usual, soon have the situation well in hand. The small force of Japanese
troops and laborers at the airstrip have been taken completely by surprise and
are heading for the hills. From a military view point the only other real estate of
value are the nearby small islands of Tulagi and Gavutu which are also a part of this operation.
There the
Japanese are putting up a furious battle but are being whittled down rapidly.
On the whole, the operation is going better that expected. Casualties are
light and stacks of Japanese supplies are taken intact. This includes such
luxury items as canned crab meat and a refrigeration plant
(below) complete with cold
beer.
The Battle of Guadalcanal begins this day and by late afternoon, the man in
charge of this bold operation,
Major General Vandegrift (below), moves his command post ashore.
Whether or not anyone had the foresight to save the General a cold beer
is not known.

To the north at the Japanese naval stronghold at Rabaul, confusion
and frustration run high and at Truk, the "Japanese Pearl Harbor," radio
messages arrive telling Admiral
Yamamoto (picture below) of the slaughter of his forces. This is probably upsetting
to the Admiral since up to now he has been the one handing out the punishment
and undoubtedly finds being on the receiving end little to his liking.
The
Admiral acts quickly however and orders an immediate counterattack.
Lady luck smiles on him. A major air attack group is sitting on the
ground waiting for take-off orders to attack Allied positions in New Guinea.
Orders are quickly altered and this air group, almost a hundred strong,
is in the air and on its way to Guadalcanal.

Arriving in early afternoon, lady luck is no longer smiling as the
high level bombers encounter heavy cloud cover and can do little damage
to the American fleet. Dive bombers do better however and score a hit on
a destroyer inflicting some damage. Our landings are interrupted by this
attack but resume as quickly as the Japanese planes depart. The air arms
of both sides suffer casualties but this has little effect on the landing
operations.

August 8th, day two and the Japanese Air Force is back. This day
the attacking bombers avoid American fighter protection and zoom in on
the landing operation. The ships however pour devastating fire into the
slow moving torpedo planes. The planes do only moderate damage to the landing
force and in two days the Japanese lose 36 planes attacking our ships while
we lose fifteen aircraft in defense of the landings.

August 9th, day three and Japanese Admiral Mikawa makes a daring
move to help his beleaguered countrymen and moves out of Rabaul with a
fast moving task force consisting of seven cruisers and one destroyer.
Unfortunately for the Americans, the admiral's force avoids detection and
sneaks into the channel off Guadalcanal at night sinking
four of our large cruisers (one, the USS Astoria shown above) and one destroyer. The admiral gives the
U.S. Navy its most humiliating defeat in history. Not wanting to give the
Japanese reason to celebrate, our navy keeps the details of this engagement
quiet but this encounter seriously jeopardizes our marines on shore. Our
navy is claiming this engagement a victory but Marines pulling American
sailors from the waters off shore are quick to note there are no Japanese
sailors among them. At Rabaul, as a consequence of this easy victory, the
Japanese are celebrating and anticipate that the remaining U.S. forces
will be disposed of easily.

While our navy is licking its wounds, the marines are doing much
better. They continue their advance encountering many Korean laborers
who quickly are taken prisoners while the search goes on for the
few remaining Japanese troops. For the 16,000 Americans ashore, there
is a short but relatively pleasant interval with time for leisure activities.
Top priority is given to souvenir hunting and letter writing using fancy
Japanese rice paper. There is also a brisk trade in Japanese occupation
scrip and Japanese cigarettes. One sergeant starts a flower-arranging
class using a beautiful illustrated Japanese book as text. Japanese
records played on a liberated Victorola provide background music.This idyllic scene as shown below in a LIFE magazine picture will not last long.

The Japanese high command quickly decides on a new plan of action.
They pick the man who was originally scheduled to take Midway had the naval
engagement there permitted a troop landing. He is now dispatched and ordered
to retake Guadalcanal. This man is Colonel Ichiki an expert infantry
tactician and all-purpose firebrand. His impetuous actions in 1937 at the
Marco Polo Bridge in China is often marked as the beginning of World War
Two. (1)

August 12th, day 6 and the
airstrip at Guadalcanal (picture below) is named Henderson Field in honor of a fallen
hero from the battle of Midway, Major Lofton Henderson. The field is declared
ready for service this day but unfortunately no American aircraft are available
for assignment here. Japanese aircraft however are making almost daily
use of the field as a bombing target.

August 19th, day 13 and Japanese destroyers deposit Ichiki and his
advance-echelon troops at Guadalcanal at one o'clock in the morning. Landing
is made at this early hour to avoid possible harassment from the air. The
colonel and his 900 troops land undetected and begin their march toward
the airport without waiting for the additional troops that are following
a few days behind. They make it to a
tidal lagoon known as Alligator Creek where they encounter the U.S.
First Marines. The Japanese have such contempt for the American fighting
ability that they charge blindly. A furious battle ensues and the
Japanese are quickly and completely annihilated. So crushing is their defeat
the Colonel Ichiki and many of his staff commit suicide to redeem their
honor. This has the unfortunate consequence
that his few remaining troops are left without officers to lead them. The LIFE
magazine picture at left shows the results of this battle. Colonel Ichiki is
shown in the insert.

Overconfidence and arrogance combined with an outstanding performance
by the First Marines have proved Ichiki's undoing. In this first real
test between the Americans and newly arrived a Japanese shock troops, the
myth of Japanese invincibility is destroyed and the question of the willingness
of the sons of democracy to stand up to almost certain death is answered.
(2)

August 20th, day 14 and the escort aircraft carrier Long Island launches
19 F4F and 12 SBD aircraft from 190 miles south of Guadalcanal. By late
afternoon the marines at Guadalcanal hear the distant drone of aircraft
engines and for the first time see planes other than Japanese as the Dauntlesses
and Wildcats arrive landing in clouds of dust. Pilots and crews are taken
back by the wild joy of the Marines who toss their helmets in the air and
cheer. Younger Marines shed tears and old timers are not ashamed of their
moist eyes. No event in this campaign does as much to boost the morale
as this arrival of the first American planes.

August 24th, day 18 and on the naval front, the Japanese decide to
capitalize their victory of the 9th by sending down an armada to wipe out
the remnants of the U.S. Navy and at the same time reinforce their remaining
land troops that are now few in number and of limited effectiveness. But
this time, the Japanese are not so lucky at sea. The U.S. Navy is able
to regain some of its prestige by sinking one of their aircraft carriers,
a destroyer, a large troop transport while seriously damaging a cruiser.
This victory is accomplished largely by the outstanding performance of
U.S. airmen. This is to be known as the Battle of the Eastern Solomons
and credit for the victory goes to Rear Admiral Norman Scott. The picture below
on the right was taken while he was still Captain. American losses include
damage to the aircraft carrier Enterprise forcing its return to Pearl Harbor
for repairs. This victory keeps the Japanese from landing the troops necessary
to start a major drive to retake Henderson Field.

August 28th, day 22 and the Japanese bounce back and again attempt
to land troops this time by the use of destroyers. The destroyers however
must accomplish their mission during the hours of darkness to avoid the
planes of Henderson Field. This attempt costs them one destroyer sunk and
two damaged. Undaunted, further attempts are made using this method and
by the end of the month the Japanese succeed in bringing enough soldiers
to the island to enable a major assault at the time of their choosing.

Having learned the hard way that the Marines are not going to be
a pushover, the Japanese take their time and plan carefully. Their buildup
continues through the early days of September and the date for the next
attack is set for September 12th. On this date, another crucial attempt
to retake the airfield will be made under the command of Major General
Kawaguchi.

Kawaguchi was originally scheduled to land and take the Fiji Islands
in July but the Japanese set back at Midway placed him here on the last
day in August. With the general comes 1200 fresh soldiers delivered by
destroyer convoy. Counting the troops shuttled in earlier by destroyers,
his force reaches 6,200 strong. Kawaguchi feels confident this will be
more than enough men to retake the airfield.

September 12th, after waiting for darkness, the Japanese troops hurl
themselves against the Marines with devastating losses to both sides. Heroic
efforts by Marine, Navy and Army Air Forces along with superb Marine ground
fighting stop Kawaguchi from taking the airfield. "Kawaguchi pointed
his command group at the ridge, but he too found the terrain so difficult
that he sidestepped west to the Lunga River and began to wade north up the
stream bed itself. When the depth and flow rate became too much, the general
crawled out of the water onto the east bank near dawn. There he issued orders
for his fragmented command to reassemble for a new effort the night of the 13th.
The muddy, wet, and mad general's exasperation was intense; he reported that
"because of the devilish jungle, the brigade was scattered all over and
completely beyond control. In my whole life I have never felt so helpless." (2)
His mood was not improved during the day when American bombing and shelling
smashed his communications equipment.

Major-General Tiyote Kawaguchi, shown above
left, was relieved of all commands following this battle and would not be called
upon by the Japanese High Command for further duty until close to the end of the
war. This picture was taken while he was an American prisoner of war.

September 13th, as darkness
fell, Kawaguchi makes another major attempt to move forward. Unknown to
the Major General, he had, after three days of horrible conflict, brought his
troops to the edge of Henderson Field and had a clear path to the field open to
him. Japanese aircraft were ready to assist if he could get word to headquarters
requesting their help. With his communication equipment destroyed, Kawaguchi was
unable to get a message through to request his much needed help. He has failed
to take the airfield and has no option but to retreat. He would soon find
that the jungles of Guadalcanal could exact a toll more deadly than the bullets
of the US Marines. However the Japanese High Command still believes that
the airfield is about to be taken and holds a unit of zero fighters ready to
land at the airfield as soon as confirmation of the victory has been received.
They await Kawaguchi's report.

September 15th, Kawaguchi's battle report reaches the 17th Army's
High Command with the admission that the attack has been a costly failure.
The news creates severe shock and disbelief. Emperor Hirohito is informed
of the defeat. Imperial General Headquarters makes a crucial decision.
It is clear that at this remote island a decisive battle will be fought,
therefore decisive forces must be committed. The Imperial Headquarters,
the Combined Fleet, and the Japanese 17th Army mesh a plan that recognizes
that Guadalcanal could be the pivotal battle of the war and that a total
commitment must be made. The Japanese set everything in motion for
a major offensive.

September 17th, although the defeat of Kawaguchi is considered a
great victory for the Americans, it is costly and the marines are in desperate
need of supplies and reinforcements. Accordingly, Admiral Turner lands
the 7th Marines at Guadalcanal but at the cost of the U.S. aircraft
carrier Wasp, torpedoed while supporting the landing operation. The same
spread of torpedoes sinks a destroyer and damages the battleship North
Carolina sending it back to the States for repair. Nonetheless, over 4000
troops with supplies are landed to bolster the marine position. However,
U.S. Naval strength is now at a precarious level and the Navy's ability
to protect the Marines on shore is questionable.

October 11th, the new Japanese offensive to retake the island calls
for major shelling of the airfield and a massive landing of troops. The
U.S. Navy manages to intercept the Japanese warships before the shelling
could be attempted but is unable to stop the troop reinforcement effort.
Since more damage is handed out to the Japanese than is received by our
forces, this last engagement is considered an American victory and it is
the first time a Japanese ship as large as a cruiser is sunk solely by
U.S. Naval efforts. This battle is to be known as the battle of Cape Esperance
and credit for the American victory again goes to Admiral Scott.

October 13th, the Japanese retaliate by sending down massive numbers
of planes, ships and troops. This concerted effort all but overwhelms the
Americans. The worst shelling that the Americans have to endure occurs
this ,night. Two large battleships each mounting eight 14 inch guns are
joined by nine destroyers and a cruiser. What takes place is one of
the most concentrated shellings in history in terms of rapid saturation
of an area. Pilots and marines in their foxholes shake uncontrollably as
"the ground shakes with the most awful convulsions."
(4) The Japanese
17th Army gauges the effect as equal to shelling by a thousand field guns.
Unfortunately, there are no American naval units available to come to the
aid of those ashore as the ships that fought two days earlier are refueling.
There are not enough remaining ships in the area in sufficient numbers
to challenge the Japanese. The Japanese therefore are able to place major
reinforcements ashore and increase their troop deployment to almost 15,000.
Additional shelling is continued by cruisers and destroyers. The American
position on Guadalcanal is now at a crucial point.

Back in the States, the epic dimension of the battle is now being
realized. The New York Herald Tribune editorialized on October 16th: The
shadows of a great conflict lie heavily over the Solomons--all that can
be perceived is the magnitude of the stakes at issue. (5)
On the same day an editorial printed in the New York Times sounded as if
the end was near: ....Guadalcanal. The name will not die out of the
memories of this generation. It will endure in honor. (6)

October 26th, the Japanese lash out again with an attack group
consisting of two heavy and one light aircraft carriers backed by the battleships
Hiei and Kirishima, three heavy cruisers, one light cruiser, seventeen
destroyers and fourteen submarines. Against this force, the Americans
throw two heavy carriers, (the Enterprise and Hornet), two battleships
(the Washington and South Dakota), four heavy cruisers, five light cruisers
and twenty destroyers. In a two day air battle, the carrier Hornet
is sunk and the Enterprise damaged enough that it was forced to return
to Pearl Harbor. Two of the three Japanese carriers were damaged,
one light and one heavy but they would be back in action in a matter of
weeks, but no additional Japanese troops made it to Guadalcanal.

The Japanese now believe they have eliminated all carrier threat
and are now ready for a new attack with high prospects that they can finally
drive the Americans from the island of Guadalcanal.